Fish ID: Cod or Trout

[JustOneMore]

Here's one of the fish we caught on the weekend at the banks. I said it was a cod of some sort, and as we couldn't ID the fish throw it back. Thus we through it back to fight another day. Someone has said it is a Coral Trout and oddbudman will kill me if I threw back a Coral Trout this big!

It didn't have big dog like teeth, and had a bump in its head between its eyes and mouth. Please help!

[Noelm]

nope, that would be of the cod family, no concave tail!

[scuttlebutt]

Not a trout, looks like a tomato cod

cheers,

steve

[Az]

yeh certainly looks from the cod family

[Slient]

It's not Coral Trout and I believe this is Coral Cod
and Steve's answer would be much accurate.

Have a look on this link

http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishguide/15723.html

Happy fishing
Silent

[Leo_N.]

Pretty sure it is a tomato cod.

Good work on the return of a fish that you are unsure of ID.

Note that tomato cod are not a target species for recreational or commercial fishing. I am not sure on their edible qualities, but all cods other than Australian grouper, camoflage rock cod, flowery cod, greasy rock cod, maori cod, barramundi cod, potato cod and estuary cod have a size limit of 38 cm.

[Tony_N]

The fish in the pic is definitely a tomato cod. Grant says they grow to 26 inches (650mm) "and is a very welcome table fish" But then again he calls a Sergeant baker a highly regarded table fish. Not down here they're not!

Tony

[finding_time]

The fish in the pic is definitely a tomato cod. Grant says they grow to 26 inches (650mm) "and is a very welcome table fish" But then again he calls a Sergeant baker a highly regarded table fish. Not down here they're not!

Tony

I think he even says Stargazers are good eating.

E. Grant knows alot about fish just nothing about cooking them!!!!

[Leo_N.]

E. Grant compiles nice books, but if you want factual information he is often off the mark. The problem is that the alternatives are too sciency for the general public.

[Strikezone_fly]

Here is a Tomato Cod

[Tony_N]

Strikezone - From my book yours looks much more like a white-dotted cod - also called a Chinaman cod in WA

[adamharris]

hello wat happening

[Leo_N.]

Here is a Tomato Cod

Strikezone your pic is of a "footballer cod" Epinephelus fasciatus.

Check out the middle pic on the top row here http://filaman.ifm-geomar.de/Photos/...ry.php?ID=5348

[BR65]

I say footballer cod.
Caught a couple on the Banks on sat nite, but was unsure of the minimum legal length so we threw them back.
Can anyone help.
Regards
Brian

[dfox]

100% guaranteed to be a tomato cod, caught many of them at the banks...pic of one...foxy